Bottle cap



Oct. 25, 1938. A. E' EsposlTo 2,134,178

I BOTTLE CAP Filed Aug. 24, 1937 I Inventor A zyu sfE ETS/aos z'Zo Attorneys as are 'used for bottling individual brands of Patented Oct. 25, 1938 BOTTLE CAP August E. Esposito, Brooklyn, .N. Y]. 7 Application August 24, 1937, Serial No. 160,709

2 Claims.

This invention relates to astructurally'new and novel screw-cap such as is susceptible of adequate and eflicient use in connection with jars, bottles, and similar containers equipped with screwthreaded or similarly constructed filling and pouring necks, the preferred embodiment of the invention having to do with a type of cap which is especially, but not necessarily, adapted for use in connection with tamper-proof containers such liquors.

As will be hereinafter readily discernible, the specific type of cap under consideration is a simple screw-cap of sheet metal, or equivalent material, including a so-called frangible tamperproof seal or retention band contained in its rim portion.

In reducing to practice the preferred embodiment of the invention, I have found it expedient and practicable to provide an ingenious combination bottleneck and associated screw-cap wherein coacting pawl and rack or equivalent means is adopted to securely fasten the cap in place and to prevent retrograde rotation thereof without breaking the seal legitimately applied at the source of bottling.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like features or parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is an elevational View showing a fragmentary portion of a bottle and disclosing the improved safety-type, tamper-proof cap as perfected in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view like Figure l with the cap removed to expose the particular formation or construction of the threaded or equivalent bottle neck.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section, on an enlarged scale, through the multiple detent-equipped band or annulus forming the safety tamper-proof rim as an integral part of the screw-cap.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an exaggerated fragmentary detail, in section, taken horizontally through the frangible portion of the retention band or collar.

Referring now to the drawing by distinguishing reference numerals, it will be observed that the bottle, container, or equivalent receptacle, is denoted by the numeral 1. As before indicated,

this has'a screw-threaded similar neck 8 and-in the present instance is improved by the'incorporation therein of what may be conveniently called an annular toothed rack 9. This is in effect an endless integral bead formed adjacent the body of the bottle, the same being serrated to provide a plurality-of properly pointed and angled retention teeth. Y

'The screw-cap is indicated as a unit by the numeral Ill and is constructed of light weight sheet metal such, as tin, aluminum, or the like. It has the customary knurled finger-grip II and screwethreaded rim I2 to engage the threads on the neck in the usual way. Formed integral with the screw-threaded skirt or rim of'the cap is: an outstanding circumferentially slotted annular shoulder forming a fragile jointing web l3 to which the safety tamper-proof retention band 14 is integrally joined. 1 This band l4 surrounds the toothed rack 9 and the shoulder I3 comes into resting contact with the rack teeth. I W

As shownfat the point [*5 in'Figure 6, this band i4 is preferably formed with an appropriate equi-distant circumferentially spaced points with struck-in, laterally bent tongues H which constitute pawls or detents, these being engageable with the rack teeth 9. It follows that when the screw-cap is applied a turned home, the detents ratchet over the rack teeth until the cap is fully set. Obviously, the detents, through this pawl and ratchet action, do not interfere with the application of the cap. On the other hand, should the cap be turned in a retrograde direction, it is obvious that this is prevented by the coaction between the detents l1 and the teeth 9. Any severe hand turning to overcome this locking action of the detents will obviously split or rupture either the slotted web l3 or the frangible joint IE, or both, so that tampering can be readily detected.

In practice a cap of this type can be properly photolithographed or otherwise formed for advertising purposes. Moreover, it does not interfere with the application of the customary Federal and State seals. It is evident, however, that. these seals as well asthe joint [5 would be broken by any unauthorized attempt to remove the cap.

The cap is characterized by requisite simplicity neck, the cap being either plain or threaded or otherwise constructed for rotary connection with the neck. Said cap is provided with a radially ofiset retention band I4. It may bev connected by a solid web as at 13, or a web having a slot therein, as indicated in Figure 4. Moreover, it is essential, fundamentally speaking, to provide the annular retention band with at least one detent equivalent to one ofthe features shown at IT, said detent to coactyvith integral retention elements 9 on the neck of the bottle; There may be a plurality of the elements, as seen by the serrated constructionin-Figure 2, or there may be simply a few of said lugs distributed circumferentially around the neckof the bottle.

For purposes of interpretation of the claims it is to be pointed out that the disruptible jointing means l6 illustrated in Figure 6 is not considered to be absolutely essential. That is to say, any suitable type of a frangible joint may be fashioned here instead of employing overlapping tongues, as is obvious. The outer tongue or extension IS in Figure 6 is intended for the harder type metals such as brass and tin plate. In the case of aluminum, however, the metal itself is soft enough to break without the assistance of this tongue construction, and the claims are to be construed accordingly.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawing will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the class described, in combination, a bottle including a neck having an endless annular serrated radially outstanding bead adjacent the body portion of the bottle said .bead being rounded at its peripheral edge, the "top of said bead constituting a shoulder and its rounded peripheral edge constituting a toothed rack, a cap fitted on said neck and including a straight portion embracing the neck, said straight portion having at its inner end a radially outstanding endless annular web, said web being apertured to render it frangible and resting in abutting contact on the shoulder portion of said bead, and an integral depending annular collar carried by the outer peripheral edge of said Web and extending at right angles to the web, said collar completely surrounding the rack and being provided with an inbent resilient tongue constituting a detent, said detent" having ratcheting engagement with the teeth in said rack.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a metal bottle capincluding a straight portion having at its bottom a radially outstanding endless annular web, saidweb being disposed at right angles to 

